Pacific Forum, in cooperation with the US Mission to ASEAN and the Jakarta-based Habibie Center, is organizing the United States-ASEAN Partnership Forum, a track II conference that will bring together Southeast Asian and American foreign policy specialists, subject-matter experts, and other thought leaders to probe key issues related to enhancing US-ASEAN relations, and promoting regional stability, sustainable growth and development, and closer people-to-people ties. In addition to senior experts, the forum will include a cohort of young scholars and policy analysts drawn from the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) and the Pacific Forum Young Leaders Program.

To qualify as a US-ASEAN Partnership Forum Young Leader participant, applicants must:

· Be in the beginning stages of his or her career;

· Hold a bachelor’s degree and several years of relevant professional experience OR has completed or is in the process of completing a master’s degree or PhD;

· Be between 22 and 35 years old, but there is flexibility based on the applicant’s level of experience; and potential contribution to the dialogues;

· Demonstrate an aptitude for international diplomacy;

· Demonstrate an interest in economic, political and/or security issues, involving ASEAN (or an ASEAN country), US Asia policy, or US-ASEAN relations;

· Demonstrate a desire to learn and gain leadership experience;

· Demonstrate strong communication and teamwork skills; and

· Be a citizen of an ASEAN member state (Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Brunei, Laos) or the United States.

*Eligibility is not restricted to current Young Leaders and YSEALI members. All are welcome to apply.